Doorbell switch, annunciator, and chime



Feb. 29, 1944. v .L A. HALL DooRELL swITcH, ANNUNCIATOR, AND CHIME 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Oct. 6,v 1941 Feb. 29, 1944.

HALL 2,343,009

DOORBELL SWITCH, ANNUNCIATOR, AND CHIME MRA-nd MRS. JUHN SMITH ARE NDT AT HDME.

PLEASE CALL AGAIN.

M'n Mrs. John Smith Filed Oct. 6, 1941 2 Shee'ts-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 29, 1944 The invention relates yto ,signal devices,

ticularly adaptedto use in thelsituation of ordi.'

.A l yAlbertrlall,i West Pitt-storni,4 Pal v Appiiatignvoclbblr 6,1941., sriaiNo. 413,836

1 claim.v` 1to1. masas o I I dicator device to beffoperated upon ordinary call nary front doorbell pu'shrbu'ttons, and arranged to convey information to a 4person operating 'the pushfbutton, or tooperate asignal, such as vvafbell or chimes.

importantfaim lof thevinvention is-'to ar.-

range the device's'o that it lmay be setso asto give information" of the absence of an occupant of a dwelling .or apartmentwhenthe push-but. ton is operated, so that information of absence will not be displayed otherwise, butwill not operate the bell signalor chimes, and at its alter-fnate set position willoperate the bell or chimes1 when the button is pushed, but rwill not illumi nate the annunciatorfor'information device.v

A `further aim isl to arrange the device in a simple and novelfwayso that the device may also be utilized to givel information of the probable return of absentees by at simple dial device manu-l ally setat will. j j

Another important aim of the invention is to present a constructionfofja unit ofv this .device especially adaptedto be'mounted upona doorway frame, or in a situation of the push-button in the grouping ordinarily followed `in apartments at the entrance, andV utilizing the conventional openings for the mounting ofthe switch buttons or to accommodate the'wires leading to the device. 1 y Y A further important object of the invention is to so arrange the devicethat-it maybe quickly opened for change 'of settingoand sc that the setting ofthe'devicecannot be changed except by openingthe `frantoi the case. j

A further important laim alsois 'to provide a novel mounting of' a dialfdeviceconvenientlyfor operating when the casingis 'openedand coorrange the elements` 'so that when the device is,

setto indicate the absence of an occupant, it will automatically function to prevent an inoperative'positionoffthe,.,ontrol device.y It is also an importantaimv lto enable the illuminated in- `dinated vwith a switchdevice for closing the ciri" dooror other vsituation where a push-buttonis f ordinarily used.' g

Figure 2 isa verticall cross' section of the device ofFigurel. u

Figure 3` vis ak front elevation. of the ldevice with the coverl removed, the wiring circuits being diagrammaticallyA indicated. f y Y Figure 4 isf an elevation of the innerv side of the cover or closure of the case.` f Figure is a View similar to'Figure 3, with the setting switch` locatedexteriorly of the case, and corresponding to location of the setting switch within an entrance while the caseportion is mounted exteriorly. n,

Figure 6is' afrc'nt elevation ofthe case unit with the rtime dial omitted. p

All of the foregoing described views are actual sizeof the device as embodied in 4one form, although it may be reduced in size, if desired.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, thereis illustrated in Figures 1 to 5, inclusive, a case I0, adapted to be stamped from sheet metal, although it may also be formed from a ysuitable plasticy or other material, Vpreferably adapted to afford an insulation of electrical energy. The case, in the present instance, is a. rectangular structure, havinga planiforrn back wall II adapted to besecuredfto theface of` ,the door-frame or the like, withftop and bottom walls I2 and I3 and side walls I4, a .cover or closure I5 being hinged as at I6 on the front edge case cover, and at the innerA side of the cover,

guide devices 2i) are provided to hold a mount ing board 2| and cover glass 22, thevcard being set between the pieces` 2| and 22. The cover isl preferably formed without side flanges, for a reason to become clear hereinafter. and preferably comprises a simple planiform plate with parts of the hinge I8 thereon. The slot I8 is preferably located below the center of the cover, and in the present instance, a similar slot or opening 23 is formed in the upper part of the cover, of similar size and shape, and inwardly of this upper opening guide devices 20' are provided in which there is removably mounted a front transparent cover glass or plate 24, and an inner opal or light-diiusing plate 25. 'I'here are on the latter, or on a simple photographic film 26 interposed between the two last mentioned light-transmitting pieces, a message or other information, special, personal, -or general, which will be readable only when illuminated from within the case, as will be subsequently described.

The slots I8 and 23 are spaced sufficiently apart to aiord room for mounting a standard type of bell-ringing push-button switch 21, the pole elements of which may be of conventional construction, the usual wiring 28 leading therefrom, the switch being operated by the conventional push-button 29 which is exposed through the case element 30 of the switch, the case element being secured upon the cover of the case I in any usual way. A stud pin 3| is fixed upon the inner side of the case, concentrically with the switch 21, and upon this there is revolubly mounted a dial 32 having a manual operating knob 33 fixed thereon and exposed at the inner side of the dial around the pin 3l, a spring 34 being confined between the dial and the front of the cover, so as to hold the dial rearwardly against thewasher 35 held adjacent the end of the pin by means of a Cotter-pin, as shown. The dial 32 is of such diameter as to extend above the lower edge of the slot 23, so that it may be seen when illuminated from within the case, the dial being of a suitable transluscent or transparent material, with numbers 36 thereon in opaque ink or other material close to the edge of the dial, and extending in sequence all around, corresponding to the numerals on the dial of a clock and with other scale markings, if desired, as formally indicated in Figure 1. The dial is in a plane close to the guide devices 20' so that it will be in close relation to the plate 25 for proper viewing of the numbers on the dial when the annunciator is illuminated. 'Ihe spring 34 serves I to hold the dial clear of the guide devices 20', and also to supply sufficient friction to hold the dial in set position, preventing casual disturbance of time indications which it may be adjusted for.

Within the case body I0, two lamps 31 may be mounted, behind which a suitable reflector 38 may be xed upon the back wall il of the case. 'Ihese lamps are wired in parallel in the circuit, to be subsequently described, as illustrated in Figure 3 and Figure 5. The lamps 31 and reflector are at such level that when the lamps are energized illumination therefrom will be projected and focused through the slot 23, as will be understood. 'While the lamp is described as being of the 12-Volt type, this is to enable the device to be operated on the ordinary bell circuit, but if desired, lamps of other potential rating may be employed, where corresponding potential is available for the lamp circuit. A sounding signal 40 is formally indicated in Figures 3 and 5, corresponding to a chime device such as is used in circuits with door bell push-button switches, although other forms of signal devicesmay be substituted, if desired. This signal device is conventionally shown as including a magnet 4l from which wires 42 are led into the case HI through a suitably bushed opening 43, formed -in the back wall Il of the case, and when the case is mounted upon a door frame or the like, the opening 43 is adjusted in registry with the usual opening in the door frame through which wires are led to the door bell push-button switch, the wires 42 being brought through such opening in the door frame, the latter not being illustrated, as being well understood in the trade and the art. The system is adapted to be energized from the secondary 42' of a conventional type transformer 43', the primary of which is connected to a usual service circuit 44, such as a 11o-volt alternating current service, the transformer being constructed so as to supply a secondary induced current of a desired lower voltage.

The wires 45 and 48 from the transformer are likewise led in with the wires 42 through the opening 43 of the case I0.

In the present instance, the lamps 31 are engaged in receptacles 41 xed upon the bracket 48 which is secured to the back wall Il o the case, the lamps being removable from the receptacles 41 in any conventional way. One terminal of each receptacle is connected to the wires 28 with one pole of the push-button switch, whlefthe other terminal of the receptacle is connected to the top pole 49 of a two position switch 50 mounted in the case upon the back wall Il below the bracket 48, and a distance above the lead-in opening 43, as may be seen in Figure 3. In the present instance, this switch is a simple knife-switch having a central terminal mounting 5l, called the middle pole of the switch, a switch blade 52 being mounted on this middle pole and engageable alternately with the terminal 49, and a terminal 5| at the lower part of the switch. The base 53 of the switch 5l! may be of any usual slate or other insulating body mounted in the conventional way, at a convenient location in the case I0 for operation, as will be described. In the present instance, however, the handle 54 of the switch 52 when engaged in the terminal 49 is located immediately in line with the pin 33, so that if the blade 52 is not fully engaged in the terminal 49, when the cover is closed, the pin 3l will engage the handle 54, and move the blade 52 to full engaged position at its upper part. The terminal 49 is connected to one side of the lamp circuit 39, while the middle pole 5I of the twoposition switch is connected to the lead-inwire 46 from the transformer at a switch connector 55 mounted upon a suitable insulator bar 56 secured to the back wall Il of the case l0. The wire 45 from the transformer is connected at a similar connector 55 on the bar 5B to the remaining wire 28 from the push-button switch, so that when the switch 21 is closed the lamps will be energized. The other connectors 51 are mounted upon the bar 58 to be utilized to connect the Wires 42 respectively to the lower pole 5I' of the two position switch, and to the lead 58 from the switch 21 to the lamp circuit at 28. From this it will appear that when the blade 52 is in its upper position, engaged with the pole 49, and the switch 21 is operated, the lamps will be energized, but when the blade 52 is in its lower position and engaged with the pole 5l', operation of the switch 21 will energize the chimes device 40.

In the use of this device, a person leaving an oiiice or house where the device is installed,

when no attendant remains, and it is desired to give callers information as to the absence and probable time of return of the occupant, the case cover l is opened, and the two-pole switch blade 52 is thrust into its upper position. Any message when marked upon the translucent plate 25, or upon the film or other materials 26 between the plates 24 and 25 will be `illuminated after closure of the case, when the switch 21 is operated. In case the information conveyed includes a message such as that indicated in Figure 1, Out-Will return at 3, the dial 32 may be operated to indicate the probable time of return of the party. In other cases, additional informative matter may be incorporated upon Athe annunciator, as will be readily understood.

This is indicated in Figure 6, where the message consists of such phrase as Mr. and Mrs. John Smith are not at home. Please call again. The card 22 displayed in the opening I8 may be a conventional business or professional card, as indicated in Figures 1 and 6.

The device as arranged in Figures 1 to 4 requires that the party leaving the premises and wishing to set the device, shall open the case l0 in the front door or other situation where a push-button is located, and operate the two position switch 50 to the desired position, moving the switch blade 52 to a desired position. However, it may be preferred to have this two position switch located in concealed position or otherwise, within a building, at a distance from the push-button, and in such cases the base 53 may be removed from within the case I 0, and set up elsewhere, as indicated in Figure 5. In this instance, one of the switch connectors 51 may be omitted since the wire 42 leading from the magnet Il to the lower pole of the two position switch may be connected directly to the pole of the switch, as shown, in Figure 5. In this instance, three wires only are required to be led into the case, and the connectors 55, 55' and 51 are utilized to connect the leads from the armature to the switch 21. The use of the device is otherwise the same as for the arrangement of the switch in the case. The time-dial 32 may be omitted, if desired, under either arrangement, of the device, and in such instance, .either a special marking for each occasion is provided to be inserted in the opening 23, or some conventional communication may be displayed, as desired.

While I have described and illustrated one form of my invention with great particularity, it will be understood that this nevertheless is purely exemplary, and that various modifications in construction, arrangement and combination of lparts, substitution of materials and equivalents.

mechanically, may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, as more particularly set forth in the appended claim.

I claim:

A switch and annunciator device comprising in combination, a case having a hinged cover, a push-button switch on the cover and exteriorly operable, an annunciator device in the case, an electrical illuminating device in the case, a distant electrical signal device, a two position switch in the case having outer terminals connected respectively with the illuminating device and the distant signal device, its middle terminal being connected to one pole of the push-button switch, a knife switch member mounted upon the central pole and movable in a plane at right anglesto the plane of said terminal and being movable outwardly toward the normal position of the cover from eitherextreme position of the switch blade, and a stud on the interior of the cover arranged to lie in close relation to the position of the switch blade when in closed relation to said illuminating circuit. whereby when the cover is closed the knife switch will be held in closea 

